Facebook Bans Pot-Leaf Image in Political Ad

Facebook may be run by a bunch of twenty-somethings, but that doesn’t mean they like pot, or at least, pro-pot ads.

After serving up 38 million ads since Aug. 7 from a group supporting the legalization of marijuana, Facebook told the group Aug. 16 that it could no longer use a pot leaf in its ad, since it might promote smoking.

“The image in question was no longer acceptable for use in Facebook ads,” wrote Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes in an e-mail to Wired.com. “The image of a marijuana leaf is classified with all smoking products and therefore is not acceptable under our policies.”

But the Just Say Now campaign contends that Facebook isn’t harshing on their mellow — it’s censoring them, especially given that marijuana legalization is on the ballot in the upcoming election in California. And it’s calling on its supporters — some 6,000 fans on its Facebook page — to swap out their profile picture for an image of a pot leaf with a banned box over it (right).

The ads were titled, “End the war on marijuana” and called on users to sign a petition asking President Barack Obama to support the right of states to legalize marijuana.

Facebook’s core audience supports drug legalization, according to polls, and a large number of young adults say they are more likely to vote if legalization is on the ballot, according to Jane Hamsher, co-founder of the Firedoglake blog, who’s helping run the campaign in concert with Students for a Sensible Drug Policy.

“We aren’t trying to sell people pot. This is a policy issue,” Hamsher told Wired.com, noting that more than 50 percent of inmates in the federal prison system were there on drug charges and that law-and-order types like former Reagan administration lawyer Bruce Fein support decriminalization. “The time is right for this, and Facebook shutting this down is a real blow when we are trying to open up a conversation.”

For its part, Facebook says it’s cool with the group advertising — just so long as they don’t use a marijuana leaf in their ads.

“We don’t allow any images of drugs, drug paraphernalia or tobacco in ad images on Facebook,” wrote Facebook spokeswoman Annie Ta. “Just Say Now can continue to advertise on Facebook using a different image.”

But Hamsher notes that Facebook allows alcohol images and argues the ban on the image cripples their campaign.

“The image is the campaign when you run those ads — that’s what you see,” Hamsher said. “It’s like telling them they can’t use the F in the square,” referring to Facebook’s own distinctive logo.

No one disputes that Facebook has the legal right to ban the ad, but Hamsher argues that it just doesn’t make sense.

“It seems like a decision made to appease somebody’s grandma,” Hamsher said.

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